A Catholic Homeschooling mom of 5 who would like to be a witness to the world. I am passionate about my Faith, family, and homeschooling. I'm not perfect but I try to be the best person I can be.

Sunday, March 20, 2011

Is Lying Ever Okay?

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Immaculate Conception of Mary
Patroness of the U.S.

Today, I got an update on a debate I had been following on Catholic Answers. "Is Lying Ever Okay?" I am truly surprised at the number of hard-line, black-or-white arguers. "Thou shalt not lie! Period!" is their battle cry. Inevitably, at least to my mind, the argument degraded to talking about the Holocaust. I say degraded because once people get really emotional involved in an argument online, the most extreme emotional appeal 'they' can think of is the Holocaust. There is even an unofficial debate rule now that once some one mentions the Holocaust or Nazis they've lost the debate.
The extremist, no-lie-is-ever-acceptable crowd says that you don't lie even to save your life or anyone else's. Really? Their is no gray area here at all? That is the stance of some of these people who call themselves Christians. Some say, "Well, Jesus never lied," "Jesus is the Truth." Yea, we know that, but we aren't Jesus. He is our example, but I really, really believe in my heart that Jesus would never in a million years condemn someone for a lie told to save someone's life. Would I lie to a kidnapper? Yes. Would I lie to a Nazi? Yes. Would I believe that I committed a mortal sin by these lies? No. Never.
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The Immaculate Conception Icon

﻿﻿﻿ Love and the protection of life trumps all. After all Jesus is also the LIFE. What did Jesus say is the greatest commandment? LOVE God with all your heart, with all your mind, with all your soul, and with all your strength, and LOVE your neighbor as yourself. Not only does this 'commandment' cover all the old ten, but He was also giving us a message. Love trumps all.
Do not lie to your husband about anything. Do not lie to your children (however, they don't have a need to know everything, either). Do not lie to the police. Do not lie in court. Do not make a practice of lying in your everyday life. Any of those would be a grave sin. But there really are gray areas in life. Lying can be one of them in the right circumstances. If (I think when) Christians, especially Catholics, begin to be persecuted again, will I lie and not tell them who my fellow Christians are? Absolutely, yes. Will I lie to protect the lives of the ones I love? Absolutely. Will I feel that I need to go to confession? Absolutely not! So, you hard-liners out there, the ones who said they would not even lie to protect a Jew hiding in the basement. When persecution comes around, would you lie to protect your own? Really?
Blessed Mary of the Immaculate Conception, Pray for us!

St. Walburga's Search

The Divine Mercy

Divine Mercy Chaplet

This meditative prayer may be prayed using an ordinary rosary. It is normally said at 3pm daily, the traditional time of death of Jesus on the cross, but can be prayed anytime.

Begin with:

Sign of the Cross, Our Father, Hail Mary, and the Apostles Creed.

Next, on the 'Our Father' beads, say:

"Eternal Father, I offer You the Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity of Your dearly beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, in atonement for our sins and those of the whole world."

On the 10 'Hail Mary' beads, say:

"For the sake of His sorrowful Passion, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

Repeat the previous 2 steps until you've completed all five 'decades.'

Then say this prayer 3 times:

"Holy God, Holy Mighty One, Holy Immortal One, have mercy on us and on the whole world."

End with:

"In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, Amen."

The Blessed Virgin Mary

Our Lady of Grace

The Memorae

Remember, O most compassionate virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your assistance, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, we fly to you, O virgin of virgins, Our Mother; to you we come, before you we kneel sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise not out petitions, but in your clemency, hear and answer them.

Amen

St. Walburga

Tapestry image of St. Walburga - Feast Day, February 25th

Prayer to St. Walburga

St. Walburga,

By your blessed life of love, God blessed you with the power to heal, to make whole the soul as well as the body. Beg for us what we cannot obtain for ourselves, and heal our world of sickness and sorrow. May God hear you, who lived so graciously for His glory, and send us the healing grace we need, through your powerful intercession.

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.